Senate Confirms Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun As Chief Justice Of Nigeria
The Senate has confirmed the appointment of Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun as the substantive Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) following her screening on Wednesday.
This confirmation follows President Bola Tinubu’s formal request to the Senate on Tuesday, where he cited Section 231(1) of the Nigerian Constitution, empowering him to appoint the CJN based on recommendations from the National Judicial Council (NJC), subject to Senate approval.
In his letter, read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during the plenary, Tinubu expressed confidence in Kekere-Ekun’s nomination, urging swift Senate approval.
“I hereby forward the nomination of Honourable Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, CON, for confirmation as the Chief Justice of Nigeria. I trust that this request will receive the Senate’s prompt consideration and approval,” the President’s message read.
The NJC had recommended Kekere-Ekun to President Tinubu in August as the successor to Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, the former CJN, who retired last month. Since then, the 66-year-old jurist has been serving as Acting CJN.
Justice Kekere-Ekun becomes the 23rd Chief Justice of Nigeria and the second female to hold the prestigious position, following Justice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar, who served as CJN from July 2012 to November 2014.
Born on May 7, 1958, in London, United Kingdom, Kekere-Ekun’s legal career began at the University of Lagos, where she earned her law degree in 1980. She was called to the Nigerian Bar on July 10, 1981, after completing her studies at the Nigeria Law School.
